AMHERST, Mass. – As the academic year gets underway, 88 new students from the University of Massachusetts Amherst College of Nursing’s accelerated bachelor of science in nursing will begin class at the UMass Center at Springfield (UMCS).

The College of Nursing made the decision to permanently teach the accelerated bachelor’s program in the Tower Square location earlier this year. The 26,000-square-foot space features 10 classrooms and clinical simulation space specifically designed for the needs of the nursing program. State-of-the-art telehealth facilities will be ready later this year.

Dean Stephen Cavanagh says there are additional benefits to the location: “The College of Nursing is excited to have our first cohort of accelerated bachelor’s students learning in the UMass Center at Springfield. The downtown Springfield location is accessible for students from all over New England, thanks to its proximity to major highways and the new Union Station. Some of the area’s best hospitals and medical facilities are also just minutes away, making it convenient for our students to complete their clinical studies. We feel this is a great opportunity for both the College of Nursing and the UMass Center at Springfield.”

The partnership between the Springfield Center and the College of Nursing dates back several years and has been mutually beneficial.

“Since we opened our doors in September 2014, the College of Nursing has been a significant academic partner providing a valuable resource for training the healthcare workforce in the Pioneer Valley,” says Daniel Montagna, UMCS director of operations. “Moving the program to Springfield benefits area businesses including restaurants and retail shops within Tower Square and throughout downtown.” Montagna adds, “We are elated to be the new home of the accelerated bachelor’s program and to have the university expand its footprint at the center and in this region.”

The 17-month accelerated program is designed for students with bachelor’s degrees in other subjects or for persons interested in a career change and is taught by the College of Nursing’s renowned faculty. The number of students taking classes in the Springfield Center will double next year when a new cohort begins.

Students beginning the accelerated bachelor of science in nursing option now will be awarded a UMass Amherst degree in December 2018.

About UMass Amherst College of Nursing
As a leader in nursing education for over 60 years, the College of Nursing at the University of Massachusetts Amherst prepares students to enter the nursing profession at the baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral levels while also developing vital nurse educators and researchers to inform and educate future generations of nursing students.For more information on the college, visit www.umass.edu/nursing[3]

About the UMass Center at Springfield

The UMass Center at Springfield is a first-in-the-state partnership between the University of Massachusetts and other area institutes of public higher education, providing a central location accessible to each school's students. Through a combination of traditional in-classroom learning and advanced telecommunications, the UMass Center provides college-course-specific opportunities not previously available in the area. Programming offered at the center, which includes evening and weekend classes, enables students to pursue continued adult education, professional certification, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees. For more information, visit www.UMassCenterAtSpringfield.org[4].